Damavand Mountain

Damavand Mountain in northern Iran is the highest mountain in Iran and the highest volcanic peak in Asia. Damavand is the second highest mountain on the plateau of Iran and the Middle East. This mountain is located 90 km northeast of Tehran and in the central part of the Alborz mountain range in the south of the Caspian Sea. According to the divisions of the country, it is located in Larijan section of Amol city in Mazandaran province. The three cities of Damavand, Amol and Tehran are the closest cities to Damavand Mountain. The location of this huge mountain is 69 km northeast of the Iranian capital and 62 km west of Amol and also 26 km north of Damavand. This mountain can be seen from the cities of Tehran, Varamin and Qom as well as the shores of the Caspian Sea when the weather is clear and sunny. This mountain was formed in the fourth geological period (Holocene) and is relatively young. Damavand was registered as the first natural monument of Iran in the list of national monuments of Iran on July 21, 2008 and since 2002 it has been protected as a “national natural monument”. In 1390 AH, National Geographic Magazine, during the official announcement of 10 dangerous mountains and peaks in the world, ranked Damavand Mountain in the north of Iran in the tenth place in its ranking.
The height of Damavand peak from the highest to the lowest point is 4661 meters. Meanwhile, the National Statistics Association of Iran has mentioned the height of this volcanic mountain as 5610 meters and NASA as 5670 meters. Damavand is in the twelfth place in the list of the tallest peaks in the world. It also has a conical shape and a lot of sulfur can be seen in its silent mouth. Damavand Peak is a symbol of stability in Iranian culture. Due to its unique features, it attracts many researchers and climbers from all over the country and the world. Damavand can be considered as one of the national symbols of Iran. In the last century, the photo has been printed many times on or behind official banknotes issued in Iran.
Although in many historical documents, this peak is called by very different names such as (Jabal Lajevard), but the name of this mountain is mentioned in many historical sources as (Denbavand) and (Damavand). Damavand in the word means tail, smoke and steam.
There are five rivers flowing around Damavand Mountain, such as Lar and Div Asyab Rivers in the west, Haraz river in the south and east, Panj Ab river in the east and Tineh river in the north of this mountain. The average rainfall in the highlands of Damavand is 1400 mm per year and the rainfall in the highlands is usually snow. Hurricane speed in Damavand sometimes exceeds 150 kilometers per hour. Wind speeds in the foothills sometimes reach seventy kilometers per hour. Most winds blow from the west and northwest. The air pressure at Damavand Peak is half the air pressure at sea level. Damavand has hot springs such as Larijan, Esk and Van.
On the southern front of Damavand Mountain, there is a frozen waterfall that is unique in the world. Its height is 7 meters and its diameter is 3 meters. Its ice never melts. Interestingly, in the summer, every day due to sunlight, around noon and one o’clock in the afternoon, the air temperature reaches above zero and very little water flows, and around 4 in the afternoon, the air temperature drops below zero. And the melted ice freezes again and thus, an icy waterfall is created which is always frozen. Damavand icy waterfall is located at an altitude of 5 thousand and one hundred meters above sea level and in this respect is the highest waterfall in the Middle East.
It can be said that the vegetation of this region is rich, so that many medicinal plants of this region are mentioned in authoritative botanical books. Foxes, jackals, goats, dogs, ewes, wolves, rams, boars, rabbits and birds such as the golden eagle, partridge, quail and bat are the main animal life of Damavand. These animals can be seen up to 4000 meters above Damavand Mountain, there are many bears in this area but they are mostly seen in the west and north. These bears usually avoid heights. Due to its special location overlooking the forest from the north and bordering the desert from the south, this area is home to various species of animals, including four-limbed predators, herbivores, birds, 5 species of snakes and scorpions. Most reptiles in this area do not contain deadly toxins; even the bites of the most dangerous reptiles can be treated within a few hours of the bite. In Damavand Mountain, reptiles are very rare at altitudes above 4000 meters.
The volcanic activity of this mountain is currently limited to the sublimation of sulfur gases. The last volcanic activity of this mountain was related to 38,500 years ago. Damavand is a dormant volcano that can be reactivated. In some years, including 2007, smoke erupted from the summit, which some witnesses saw as evidence of the volcano’s eruption. But in fact, in rainy years, with the infiltration of water into the peak and the collision of hot rocks, a stream of water vapor comes out of the mouth of the peak and it seems that volcanic activity has taken place. The crater is about 400 meters in diameter and is covered by an ice lake. There are also signs of old craters in the southern and northern parts of the mountain.
The best time to climb Damavand is from mid-June to early September. Climbing at other times will be very difficult and dangerous. To reach Damavand Peak, there are several routes, the most well-known of which are: North Road; The ascent from this front takes place through the two glaciers of Sivaleh (right) and Dobey Sel (left). Northeast Road; The Shelter of Takht-e Fereydoun is located on this route. Western way; Simorgh Shelter is located on this route. Climbing to Damavand Peak must be done with professional mountaineering groups and individual climbing is not recommended at all.